Chasing the Elusive Northern Lights in Iceland by Alex Shaland
All visitors to Iceland fall into two distinctive categories: those who saw the northern lights and those who did not. When Irene set her trip target on Iceland, she was determined to place herself, our daughter, and I squarely in the first category. The problem was that unlike the predictable crowds at JFK on the way to Iceland, the famous northern lights of Iceland are highly unpredictable.Continue reading the blog post.

James Bond’s Swiss Connection
Back in 1969, James Bond, also known to millions as 007, was doing what he is always doing – saving the world. But this time, it was different. In addition to saving an imaginary world from imaginary villains, Bond managed to save a real-life Swiss company from all-too-real financial ruin. Continue reading this blog post

Siracusa – Sicily’s Top DestinationSiracusa is truly a summation of Sicilian splendor, and if there is one city in Sicily that personifies this magnificent island it is Siracusa. The city is 3,000 years in the making and combines Greek and Roman civilizations with ancient Jewish culture and baroque masterpieces.Continue reading the blog post.

African Safari Tips: The Importance of a Good CompanyGoing on an African safari by yourself or in a small group is not advisable. Suppose, you are standing in front of a lion or a rhinoceros and trying to calculate your chances of getting out of this situation in one piece and hopefully not perforated in too many places. You are staring at the whatever it is that is going to do a very bad thing to you ….continue reading this blog post

Sharing first impressions from ScandinaviaScandinavian countries – Denmark, Sweden, and Norway – constitute arguably: the most cultural and sophisticated, most educated and prosperous (with the least income disparities), most highly taxed and socialistic (oh well…), least churchgoing and most unmarried – part of the West. People are the happiest we ever encountered, reserved, but very polite and helpful. Continue reading.

Masai – the Lost Tribe of Israel This is a Jewish story of Africa that I found in the most unlikely of places: the vast plains of Masai Mara and Serengeti reserves. As we drove there, we saw the light-skinned, tall, slender people dressed in red, who were as ubiquitous to the landscape as sky above and earth below. Continue reading this blog post.

Finding Home away from Home – in AfricaWe were travelling all day: through the exotic strangeness of the Zanzibar Stone Town to the Nairobi airport’s thick mess of people and suitcases, sickening smells and deafening noises. Then again, through the traffic and dust and darkness of Nairobi streets… Continue reading

History of Confucian Synagogue in Kaifeng, China Kaifeng, China. As Irene hurriedly writes, Esther, a Founder and Director of the Kaifeng Jewish History Memorial Center, tells the story of her forebears. On the wall, is the 18th- century rendering of Kaifeng synagogue… The synagogue rendering reminds of the country’s typical residential or religious compounds. Continue reading this blog post.

May 2, 2018 at 7:00 PM Irene Shaland presents her lecture “An Island within an Island: Seeking Jewish Story through 500 Years of Cuban History” at the Maltz Museum, Beachwood, Ohio. Call 216.593.0575 to register. Download flyer 05-02-2018 Cuba Lecture

March 25, 2018 at 2:00 PM Irene Shaland presents her lecture “An Island within an Island: Seeking Jewish Story through 500 Years of Cuban History” at the New City Library, NY. To register call 845-634-4997. Download flyer 03-25-18 Lecture

February 20, 2018 at 7:00 PM Irene Shaland presents her book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories” at the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, OK 2018 Annual Campaign. For registration call 918-495-1100. Download flyer BookEvent 02-20-18

November 18, 2017 at 1:00 PM Irene Shaland presents her lecture: “Cuba: The Land, the People, the Arts–after 60 Years of Castro’s Revolution” at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio. Address: 1834 East 123rd St. Cleveland, Ohio 44106

November 5-7, 2017 Conference, Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, Philadelphia, PA. Irene Shaland presents “An Island within an Island: The Jewish Experience against the Background of Cuban History”. For conference details see more.

October 22 at 2:00 PM Irene Shaland’s lecture: “Jews and Aborigines: Little Known Stories from the Human Rights Struggle in Australia” at the New City Library, NY.
For details see: OCT_22_2017_Lecture

October 19 at 12:00 PM Irene Shaland speaks at the Book and Author luncheon organized by Hadassah Chapter of Long Island, NY.For details see: BOOK_EVENT_OCT_19_2017

October 18 at 7:00 PM Irene Shaland will present her book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories” at the Logos Bookstore in New York City. For details see: OCT_18_2017-author-event

May 24 at 7:00 PM Irene Shaland’s lecture: “Jews and Aborigines: Little Known Stories from the Human Rights Struggle in Australia” at the Maltz Museum in Beachwood OH. Download flyer: May 24_2017_Australia_HumanRights

May 7 at 2:00 PM Irene Shaland’s lecture Stones Fill the Void: “Visiting the Murdered Jews of Vienna” Date and Time: Location: New City Library, NY.

April 30 from 1 to 3 PM Book signing: Irene Shaland presents her new book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories” at Loganberry Books.

NA’AMAT presents Irene Shaland and her new book The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories at the Beachwood Library. Wednesday Sept. 14 at 7:00 PM. Address.

The Artists Archives of the Western Reserve is proud to announce its program: The Woman Behind the Artist– The Many Lives of Erika Bourguignon a presentation by Irene Shaland. Wednesday, August 17th 6:30-8:00 PM
Address: 1834 East 123rd St. Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Book event featuring Irene Shaland and her new book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories” at Beachwood Library on July 10th, 2016.

Irene and Alex Shaland are panelists at the Self-Publishing Roundtable Panel organized by the Writing Center, Cuyahoga County Public Library, South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch. Date and Time: June 2, 2016, 7:00 PM. To register call: 216-382-4880.

Photography Show: Wildlife Photography by Alex Shaland at New City Public Library, New City, NY. Dates: April 3 through April 30, 2016. See details: April 2016 Africa Photo Show Flyer

Irene Shaland presents her new book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories” on April 24, 2:00 PM at the Coffee Phix Cafe 4485 Mayfield Road, South Euclid, Oh 44121.

Irene Shaland’s lecture “In Search of a Jewish Story in China” at Park Synagogue, Beachwood, OH. Date & Time: February 9, 2016 at 10:45 AM. Open to Park Synagogue members.